Well, not much was learned. It's a wood dowel all right, but it only goes into the stock about 3". Nothing else in there (weight, old hunting license, $100 bill...). The only thing I can think is that somebody drilled it out (or started to) and then decided they didn't want the hole in the stock,so they filled it. Could have been the same person or a later owner. I can't imagine that the hole or 3" of 1/2" dowel would make much difference weight-wise; maybe they thought it was a strength issue.
So, another mystery NOT solved, but at least I know what it is.
__________________
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. - Mark Twain.
|